Agenda item

Consider report by Chief Social Worker on progress in implementing the duties of the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 which came into force on 1 April 2014.  (Copy attached.)

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Councillor Edgar declared an interest in the following item of business in terms of Section 5 of the Councillors Code of Conduct and left the Chamber during the discussion.

With reference to paragraph 14 of the Minute of 26 June 2013, there had been circulated copies of a report by the Chief Social Work Officer detailing progress in implementing the duties of the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 which came into force on 1 April 2014.   Whilst the Act applied to all age groups, the report focused on implementation within adult services.  The report explained that the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 (the Act) came into force in April 2014.  Its aim was to ensure that people eligible for social care support had control and choice over their support arrangements.  As of August 2015 there were 349 people receiving support through the Act.  In order to ensure that new duties were being met a review had been undertaken and this report highlighted the key findings.  The review was informed by people using the self-directed support (SDS) approach, social work managers and practitioners, and providers who responded to a questionnaire.  The majority of people felt that the Council was fully adhering to the duties of the Act.  In some duties it was recognised that there was a need for further progress.  This Act was in year five of a ten year national SDS strategy, and it was recognised nationally that this was a large scale transformational change that would take time.  The questionnaire responses from social work staff and providers had helped to identify what was working well within SDS and what were the challenges.  Most staff were very positive about SDS and its focus on the person’s choices and outcomes.  Learning from the review had confirmed that key areas to address included an urgent need for the SDS documentation to be incorporated into the social work information system, frameworki; the need for a review of the resource allocation system to follow from this; the extension of public information; opportunities for continuous learning and the need for continuing leadership support with the change.  Members discussed the report and asked that future reports include users’ comments.

DECISION

AGREED to:-

(a)     note the Council’s progress in meeting the duties under the Act; and

(b)     endorse key actions to progress implementation as detailed below:

          (i)      implement the new paperwork to reflect SDS. This would provide people with clear information about the option chosen, and on the budget for their support.  It would also reduce paperwork for practitioners;

          (ii)     collect information on whether people’s outcomes were being met through their support and report on this;

          (iii)    promote cultural change through the organisation by continuing to facilitate shared learning amongst stakeholders. This should improve understanding about SDS;

          (iv)    meet the duty to provide information on a range of resources within service provision and the community by exploring the provision of a resource directory with providers and the third sector;

          (v)     consider how an outcomes approach could be integrated into budget allocation decisions.  This should provide a robust system for allocating budget that took into account how people wanted to meet their needs; and

          (v)     review commissioned services in light of demand for more options.